Penna
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Overview
The Penna rises in the Nandi Hills of Karnataka and flows east through Andhra Pradesh to the Bay of Bengal.
It rises in the Nandi hills of Karnataka's Chikkaballapur district and flows north and then east through Andhra Pradesh.
It flows through the rain-shadow Rayalaseema region and enters the Bay of Bengal near Nellore.
The Somasila dam is the main reservoir on it, and Gandikota, the gorge called India's Grand Canyon, lies on the river.
It is about 597 km long.
It is a rain-fed river.
It flows through drought-prone areas.
The river is important for irrigation in Nellore.
Geography and key facts
- Rises in the Nandi Hills, Karnataka
- East-flowing to the Bay of Bengal
- Rises in Nandi hills
- Somasila dam
- Gandikota gorge
Why it matters for UPSC
Peninsular east-flowing rivers are a standard map topic.
Note for UPSC
Rises in the Nandi Hills (Karnataka) and flows through Andhra Pradesh to the Bay of Bengal.
Prelims asks about tributaries, the states a river flows through, its basin and the projects on it, so trace the course on the map.
Asked in PYQs
No question in our Prelims bank names Penna yet.
Key facts
- Type
- River
- States / UTs on its course
- Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka
- River system
- Peninsular
- Basin
- East-flowing (south)
- Extent on map
- 13.6°–15.0°N, 77.3°–80.2°E
From the Map Explorer data; positions are for orientation.
In the lessons
- Physical Features and Drainage of India (map lesson)
- Drainage Systems of India: Himalayan and Peninsular Rivers (map lesson)